Carlsber West Cheshire League round-up by Ray Condliffe

POULTON Victoria began their defence of the Carlsberg National Pub Cup - a trophy they collected on a never-to-be-forgotten day at Wembley last May - with an emphatic 5-1 victory over Hyde, Cheshire, club Railway. Simon Lewis and Nicky Dillon both scored twice and an absolute screamer from Vinny Duff put the icing on the cake.

Although the weather affected Saturday's league programme, all four Pyke Cup ties took place, with visitors Heswall edging out Mersey Royal 1-0, with a goal from Sam McAteer, highly rated brother of Liverpool star Jason.

Merseyside Police made progress as Derek McCarthy and Mark Williams struck in the opening 20 minutes in a 2-0 win at Mond Rangers. In the meeting of the league's top two, Vauxhall (Mark Wakerfield, Tony Ungi and Neil Wrenham) had a 3-2 triumph against Shell (Warren Jones, Andy Nicol).

Stork overcame local rivals Bromborough Pool 4-1 in a replayed first round tie, with goals from Paul Wiggins, Dave Mustoe, Alan Cline and Ian Dunroe. Dave Leighton replied with a free-kick.

In the day's only First Division encounter, strikes by Mike Collins and Ian Parry produced a 2-0 win for hosts Capenhurst against Blacon YC, while Division Two table toppers Stork Reserves maintained their excellent form with a 5-2 win over Shell Reserves.

Star of the show was Greg Hunter, who fired a hat-trick, assisted by efforts from Paul Scarisbrook and Ben McHugh. John Powell and Gary McCleese netted for Shell.

Colin Hawitt was also a hat-trick hero for second-placed Poulton Victoria Reserves, who had Tony Ward on target in a superb 5-1 victory over defending champions Heswall Reserves.

Phil Parkhill also fired a hat-trick and new boy Kevin Pink scored twice in New Brighton's 8-0 rout of Bromborough Pool Reserves. West Kirby overcame Vauxhall Reserves 2-0 with Matt Parks hitting his first goal since returning from injury and regular marksman Neil Pulson also registered.

Mersey Royal Reserves had their best win of the campaign in a 4-1 success at Manor Athletic. Charlie Jones, 2, Andy Owens and John Brunt were on target.

RESULTS:

Saturday, November 29:-

Pyke Cup (1st Round Replay) - Bromborough Pool 1, Stork 4.

Pyke Cup (2nd Round) - Mersey Royal 0, Heswall 1; Mond Rangers 0, Merseyside Police 2; Vauxhall 3, Shell 2.

Division One - Capenhurst 2, Blacon Youth Club 2.

Division Two - Manor Athletic 1, Mersey Royal Reserves 4; New Brighton 8, Bromborough Pool Reserves 0; Poulton Victoria Reserves 5, Heswall Reserves 1; Stork Reserves 5, Shell Reserves 2; Upton AA 2, General Chemicals 5; West Kirby 2, Vauxhall Reserves 0.

Carlsberg Pub Cup - Poulton Victoria 5, Railway 1.

FIXTURES:

Saturday, December 6 (kick-off 2pm unless stated):-

Division One - Blacon YC v Mersey Royal.

Division Two - Ashville Reserves v Bromborough Pool Reserves; Castrol Social v Capenhurst Reserves; Christleton Reserves v Stork Reserves; Heswall Reserves v Shell Reserves; Mersey Royal Reserves v Vauxhall Reserves; Poulton Victoria Reserves v Manor Athletic.

Cheshire Amateur Cup (3rd Round, kick-off 1.45pm) - AFC Zeneca v Newton; Alsager v New Brighton; Barnton v Ashville; Bromborough Pool v Poulton Victoria; Cammell Laird v Knutsford; Disley Amateurs v Upton AA; General Chemicals v Dukinfield Town; Linotype v Heswall; Malpas v Capenhurst; Mond Rangers v Lymm MSA; Shell v Christleton; Vauxhall v Bollington; Woodley Sports v West Kirby.

Lancashire Amateur (4th Round, kick-off 1.30pm) - Merseyside Police v Manweb.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.